WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

DAIRY BOARD ELECTION. (Special to “ Guardiau.”) WELLINGTON, September 27. The success of the two candidates for two candidates for seats on the Dairy Control Board, who favoured “sane” control, against the retiring rn cm hers who favoured the form of absolute control as put into operation by the Dairy Control Board, is causing a good deal of interest in commercial cjrles. .Messrs Corrigan and Timpany. who defeated .Messrs Dalrymple and Fisher both on a tonnage basis and on the votes of suppliers is held to indicate that had the suppliers known what “ control ’’ really meant the Act would never have been passed. They were given to understand that they would have control over tlieir own produce. while as a matter of fact they have discovered that the control had passed into the hands of an expensive hut irresponsible bureaucratic organisation. It is proha hie that other members ol the Board who are strong advocates of compulsory control may lose their seats what they stand for re-elec-tion. as some of them must do next vear. li is obvious that a. new situation has been created by the election, and there will no lie any unanimity in respect to the proceedings of the Board. I fere is an industry variously valued at from £15,000.000 to £20,000,000 that will lie made the battledore and shuttlecock of contending factions on this Board. It lias been repeatedly denied that the Board intended to “fix” selling prices, .but Mr J. Fisher, who was defeated in the South Island, stated that he approved of fixing selling prices oil the lines outlined by the liiinrd. so that the Board is going to “fix’' selling prices. Apart from all t">is a disinterested observer contends that placing so important an industry under the control of men elected to exercise such control is opposed to common sense and business methods. No business man would think ol placing his business or any part ol it under the control of anyone elected, but would very carefully select the individual for the position. What guarantee Lave the producers that the men originally elected, or who have since been elected are competent to deal with so intricate a business as the marketing of dairy produce. It is the political olincnt introduced into a purely commercial affair, and polities and business men cannot be run in double harness. It can be scon now that the board will meet with a great deal of trouble and that there will be internal dissensions. In the meanwhile it is interesting to note that the butter market is again weakening. The pressure of the enormous weight of stored butter is depressing the market. That stored butter must be sold sooner or later, and every time an increased quantity of stored butter is released the price drops immediately. Last week there was a drop of 2s per ewt, and the tendency must necessarily he downwards while there, is so much butter to he cleared and new supplies from New Zealand now on me water LONDON WOOL SALES. At the current London sales prices keep very linn for all classes of wool, but it will he noted that there is no further upward movement. Current prices appear to he at the true, economic level, and the wool selling freely, it has been frequent ly remarked that the prices ruling to-day are on a parity with those current at the March sales, and this is borne out by actual realisations, furthermore, hall'-brals which appear to bo in very good demand just now are above .March rates. Thus st'-58’s of average quality realised in .March l!).Vd and are now selling at 23d; 50-36’s have risen from 17-ld to IStcl ; and 48-50’s from laid to 15;,d; fine and medium crossbreds have not quite recovered for 46-48’s, which were si lling at L4;{d in March are now only worth ILid. and 4.4-40's ■ which were worth I lid six months ago are now quoted at 131 cl. Medium and low . crossbreds have quite recovered for 4.0-14’s at 13J-d are at the same level as in March nml low crossbreds 36-4O’.s at 12td are also at the March parity. Ti' e wool market is buoyant and sound and very promising.